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NU watch concept with a geometric twist.

Sam says: The idea of the NU watch concept is using a simple geometric twist to create a minimalistic analog watch display. I was playing around with positive and negative space that’s been taken away from or added to the watch face.

After some sketches I came up with this ramp, that cuts out the hour hand below zero level and forms the minute hand above this level.

The display is surrounded by a conoid ring that causes the hour hand to be shorter and the minute hand to be longer as we are used to with traditional analog watches. The ring can be illuminated for night time readability. I kept the geometry as simple as possible but couldn’t resist to give the side button a conoid shape too.

Pressing the button illuminates the before mentioned ring. Pulling the button enters setting mode. The NU is a timeless and stylish watch for minimalists who like to mix tradition with a modern look.

Just for a sense of balance: this design is made epic by Sam’s sense of style, the quality of his renders and his presentation. I wonder if I would be as enthused if this design was done by someone with less cad skills or access to basic packages. Or if was more a text described design. The presentation here can make all the difference. I hope that I and others do see the potential in the less well presented posts. I’m sure TF do where we might miss it!
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Hear hear! A slick presentation always hits harder, but I think one really should take the time to look at the less polished ones, to make sure you rate the idea, and not the images… What Pete said, basically…=)

Wise words Nev 🙂 Maybe the light can be divided so it could work as indicators when the button is pressed. I had this idea for my Missing Link concept a while ago. There would be more accuracy without disturbing the look of the watch. Thanks for telling and supporting Nev!!

I like your computer graphics very much: this matte surface, these details. And I love those details that make the design simple but significant (ger.: wertig). One could make it just a flat circle with an hour hand exceding its edge and a cutaway for the hour hand, but this would be not just simple but also cheap (in a rather negative sense). The logo looks more like ru than nu by the way.

Actually I started with the simple cut out idea you mentioned, then the flat circle got thicker to make it more 3D, more haptic (although you can’t touch it, it’s cool then it looks like the fingers could expereince it). Then I played around with the connection of the highest point and the lowest one. I had a curvy ramp too but I ended with the simple linear ramp.

Hah, I wrote samething like this for your EDGE II concept. Yeah, some details that let the eye stay a bit. Overall simplicity to not hurt people’s eyes hehe.

I can tell you, the ideas can come from anywhere. There is an underlying fascination for watches, these everyday-objects that change constantly and help us. This fascination lets me see objects in a different way. I’m looking at them asking myself if there is a potential watch concept hidden in it. This is also why the ideas are so diversified. It’s fun ^^